Knicks still kicking
Carmelo Anthony scored 41 points, Amare Stoudemire had 20 points and 10 rebounds in his return from a cut hand, and the New York Knicks snapped an NBA-record, 13-game postseason losing streak by beating the visiting Miami Heat 89-87 Sunday in Game 4 of their first-round series.
"I'm just glad that we came together after that, kept our composure, kept on fighting and won the basketball game," Anthony said.
Anthony made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 54.5 seconds left as the Knicks overcame another serious injury to win a playoff game for the first time since beating Toronto on April 29, 2001, in Game 3 of a best-of-five series. Baron Davis dislocated his right kneecap in the third quarter, just as the Knicks were making the run that got them back into the game after a dismal first half.
LeBron James scored 27 for the Heat, who will try to close it out in Game 5 at home on Wednesday. Dwyane Wade had 22, but missed a 3-pointer on the last possession that would have given Miami a lengthy rest before starting the second round.
"We'd love to take the week (off) but it's not in the cards for us to do that in this round," Wade said.
Lakers 92, Nuggets 88: Kobe Bryant scored 22 points, Andrew Bynum added 19 and Los Angeles’ stars got plenty of help from the supporting cast in a win over host Denver Nuggets for a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
The Lakers can wrap it up Tuesday night when the series shifts back to Staples Center for Game 5.
Reserve Jordan Hill was big for L.A., posting a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Steve Blake scored 10 points, including a key 3-pointer in the final minute as the Lakers overcame a six-point halftime hole and a 71-70 deficit heading into the fourth quarter.
Ramon Sessions scored 12 points and also had a big 3 in the final minute for L.A.
Danilo Gallinari led the Nuggets with 20 points.
Celtics 101, Hawks 79: Paul Pierce scored 24 points in 18 minutes and host Boston opened a 37-point third-quarter lead before coasting past Atlanta to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The Celtics can finish off the Hawks in Atlanta on Tuesday. Game 6 would be in Boston on Thursday, if necessary.
Two nights after his triple-double helped turn back the Hawks in overtime in Game 3, Rajon Rondo had 20 points and 16 assists as the Celtics got some much-needed rest for their aging and injured roster.
Josh Smith returned after missing Friday’s game and had 15 points and 13 rebounds for Atlanta. Al Horford, who played for the first time in almost four months, scored 12 points.
76ers 89, Bulls 82: Spencer Hawes scored 22 points and Jrue Holiday had 20 to help surprising Philadelphia beat visiting Chicago and take a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series.
Andre Iguodala had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Sixers, who have won the last three games after losing Game 1.
Game 5 is Tuesday in Chicago.
The top-seeded Bulls played without Derrick Rose (torn ACL) and Joakim Noah (sprained ankle). Rose is out for the season and Noah is day to day for the rest of the series.